THR Long, Long Wait - Rhonda K's Recovery

[Rhonda K]

Thanks @Jaycey, whenever I have something going on that concerns me, I look here to see if anyone else has the same issue. Feel better when I'm not the only one, so thanks for taking the time to let me know I'm not. You are doing great. It is just very hard to keep us down, I share your frustrations. Can't wait till some semblance of normalcy comes around for us. In my case, it will be awhile I think. I have learned I gotta wait for it. Hope your progress keeps moving ahead.

@Newhipneeded thanks for advice about vitamin E oil. I still have some steri strips on because of keeping my staples In so long and the nurse told me not to put anything on incision until all scabs fall off. I do still have scabs but I sure will do the oil when I can. Last night the incision was itching so bad. I was wishing for some then, something, anything, haha. Very maddening! Those clam shells are torture and I agree with Josephine, should not be done, so none for me.
Some of those PT movements do more harm than good in my opinion. I've cut out another couple because they hurt, so are they really helping? You are doing well, I've been following you too. Hope all the good progress continues!


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[Jaycey]

I do still have scabs but I sure will do the oil when I can.

Do be sure and leave your scar to heal on it's own until there are no scabs. Oils and lotions really are not needed. The scar will fade into a very fine line.

Some of those PT movements do more harm than good in my opinion.

I had significant pain when doing the PT exercises in the hospital. Stopped them the minute I got home and low and behold - no pain. Hips just need walking. You will regain and develop ROM just moving around.

 

[Rhonda K]

@Josephine,
Hi, I was just wondering what your thoughts are on my situation? I outlined my PT, meds, and pain levels a few posts ago. Thanks in advance.


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[Carriemay60]

@Rhonda K PT should not hurt, period! A bit of muscle pull I think is fine but even then not to extreme. I have never been asked to do clamshells or the other exercises that seem to cause so much discomfort and even pain ~ makes me extremely happy as I would prefer not to have a conversation of refusing anything, but I would if pushed! Today at physio, by fluke I noticed that if I flexed my foot (like an ankle pump) while doing other exercises it seemed to double the muscle pull. My PT was on that immediately advising me to be careful and preferably not even attempt it until my muscles are more developed. I obviously can't afford a setback so I listened

 

[Rhonda K]

@Carriemay60 yes, seems common sense to me. If they pressure you to do movements and it hurts, real discomfort, not just muscle stretching, how is that good? We all like to please and want to feel we are strong, so I was pushing through the pain with most of the exercises. Even the simple heel slides hurt my sore knee and the marches hurt my quad muscle. What really hurts is when I try to stand on op side to do moves with good leg. I am somewhat confused about what I should do........I'm wondering if I should call and ask for a another pain med. first two didn't work out. Tylenol helps if only resting and walking, but PT is pretty rough.


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[Rhonda K]

Seems like you have a really good PT who is sensitive to what is good for you and what isn't. That's how it should be.


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[Jaycey]

We all like to please and want to feel we are strong, so I was pushing through the pain with most of the exercises. Even the simple heel slides hurt my sore knee and the marches hurt my quad muscle.

@Rhonda K if any of your PT is hurting you please stop! There is enough pain just recovering from THR. If PT is causing more it's just counter productive.

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

@RhondaK. I took the view that if anything hurt..I didn't do it! The heel slides hurt my knee..so I stopped them too! I don't think they are a good exercise for the hip anyway. Could you just do a little walking every day for a week without all the rest of the PT and see if that helps.? You are right...every day throws up a different pain.....but I think it's just all the aggravated bits healing in different ways/times....it gets better ...honestly! Xxx


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[Rhonda K]

Ok, I'm going to listen to those who have been there, done that. Going to follow what the real "experts" are telling me. Moving around and walking will be my PT for awhile. Thanks Jaycey and Hoppy Nanny.


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[Hoppy Nanny]

Yaaaay! X. Looking forward to a good report! Xxx


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[Jaycey]

Well done! I think you will be pleased at how much easier it is to move around without all that aggravation. Please let us know how it goes. And don't forget the !

 

[Carriemay60]

@Rhonda K As far as I understand, our new hips are not really stable and "set in" at your stage (I could well be wrong) so being asked to put your entire body weight on your op leg sounds bizarre to me. I, of course, haven't been asked to that because my leg but I think if I had I would have refused. I am happy to hear you are going to back off a bit. If I didn't have other factors influencing my recovery I think I would stay away from physio.

 

[Josephine]

thanks for advice about vitamin E oil

Massage post THR

Some of those PT movements do more harm than good in my opinion. I've cut out another couple because they hurt, so are they really helping?

Hips actually don't need much exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

 

[Josephine]

2.pain levels, when sitting very little maybe 1. When walking, 5. Very stiff upper thigh and tenderness on side of hip at times and knee stiff and sore.

okay

3.was prescribed percocet in hospital, couldn't tolerate the nausea and vomiting, then prescribed Tylenol/codeine. Made me itch like crazy and constipation was horrible. Right now I take 1000 mg of Tylenol 3 times a day. It does help.

Well, should be okay at 5 weeks out but take it 4 times a day - 6hrly. Might as well make full use of it.

4. Still using walker at this late date per PT. He told me I was too weak for cane when I saw him last week. And I don't see him again until Oct 21st. He said under no circumstances was I to try it on my own. The walker makes doing chores difficult. I do some cooking and my own personal stuff. I walk for 20 minutes every morning and several times a day in my back yard.

Well, you shouldn't BE doing chores! That's the point! Plus you should cut back on the walking somewhat. A total of 3 times a day outside and 40 minutes. You can increase it when you get to canes.

My comments in bold
They have me doing most exercises 3 times a day - do them once a day
heel sides x30 - these are knee exercises, unnecessary
bridges x30 - bad for hips, don't do them
thigh clinches x30 - do 15
glut clinches x30 - do 15
clam shells x30 - don't do these, they cause lots of pain and IT band issues
straight leg lifts hold for 5 seconds, 10 each - do 5 first thing in the morning
side lifts x30 - don't do these, they're bad for you
back kicks x30 - don't do these, they're bad for you
small squats x30 - don't do these, they're bad for you
up and down on toes, each leg, which hurts when standing with full weight on op side x30 - don't do these

Am beginning to wonder if inflammation is normal at this juncture. I do ice and elevate quite a lot. Still have swelling around incision.

No it's not. You're only 5 weeks out and all that exercises is causing the pains you have. Hips actually don't need much exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess. Go back and read your recovery articles.

 

[Josephine]

As far as I understand, our new hips are not really stable and "set in" at your stage

Incorrect. The only reason some surgeons require non or partial weight bearing is because they fear it will discourage the bone ingrowth into the metal if an uncemented device is used. But this is totally unwarranted. I know lots of hip surgeons who require no restrictions of any kind after this.

 

[Rhonda K]

@Josephine, thank you! Makes sense to me!


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[beachgal]

@RhondaK, just catching up on your thread and reading Josephine's good advice. I'm learning, too, as I go...no wonder those darn clamshells are so difficult! Glad you've got some good direction from her and now we'll see how much better your inflammation gets after you've altered your lifestyle a bit!

 

[xtina16405]

@rhondak just catching up on your thread. Some great info. I am so glad I read it. I too worry that PT hurts. I started doing only exercises I felt helped. Walking is my number 1. I am only at week2 so I am way behind you. If it hurt then I did it with pt here but not after. I think we need to listen to our bodies. If our body says ouch bad pain don't do it. If our body says oh good pain feel it is helping then continue doing it. I wish you all the best. I know you will find the happy medium and thank you because you are helping me heal.

 

[Rhonda K]

Yep @beachgal, I am learning on the job, so to speak.....just trying one way, and when that doesn't seem to be working for me, will switch gears a little. Will find that "just right" way one way or another. Taking a break from all the movements that cause pain so thinking my sore muscles can recover and maybe have less pain when putting full weight on op side. Sure have my hopes up I can graduate to cane when I go to PT next week. This walker has been my best friend, but my arms and hands are so sore from it, so time for a new one. You are doing so well. My goal is to get where you are, hopefully not too long down the line.

@xtina16405 nice to hear from you as I have been following you. You should feel reel good about where you are because you are doing great! What you said about the PT and pain is right on I have concluded. Actually just a couple of days having backed off mine and my sore knee is feeling some better today. So I will take that as a sign that for me, it's the way to go for awhile. I know as the weeks go on I will get back to some therapy and work, but trial and error is my plan for now. We all learn invaluable lessons from each other here. It's been my lifeline! Keep doing what is best for you, like you have been. It's going good for you and that's great! We are getting there.


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[MajorHeidi]

@Rhonda K Those dastardly clamshells I believe contributed to a case of bursitis for me.
Hope you continue on progressing and doing well.